In a recent decision, fishing industry regulators have opted to abandon more stringent lobster fishing standards in New England following extensive backlash from lobster fishermen. The fishermen argued that the proposed rules were unnecessary and would lead to financial ruin for harvesters.
The regulators had intended to introduce new rules this summer that would have raised the minimum legal harvest size for lobsters in key fishing grounds. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Council, responsible for managing the fishery, emphasized the importance of these changes in safeguarding the future of a lobster population that had exhibited signs of decline.
However, many commercial fishermen strongly opposed the proposed alterations, as they would have been required to discard lobsters that were previously deemed market-ready. Responding to the industry’s fervent concerns about the potential economic impacts, an arm of the commission voted on February 4th to initiate the repeal of the new rules, as outlined in a statement released by the commission.
The decision to eliminate the new size standards will necessitate the fishing industry to devise strategies aimed at preserving the lobster population, according to Patrick Keliher, chair of the commission’s lobster board. Keliher stated, “This action under consideration by the board will compel the Gulf of Maine lobster industry to develop management strategies to ensure the long-term well-being of the resource and the coastal communities it sustains.”
The proposed size adjustment was targeted at the Gulf of Maine, a critical area off New England that significantly contributes to American fisheries and is home to various popular seafood species, including lobster, haddock, and clams. In 2023, the commission had established rules stipulating that the legal harvesting size for lobsters would become more stringent if the lobster stock in the gulf exhibited a 35% decline.
In 2023, officials reported a stock decline of nearly 40% when comparing the periods of 2020-22 to 2016-18. This decline coincided with a period when the Gulf of Maine was experiencing accelerated warming compared to most of the world’s oceans, which scientists have indicated could impact the health and reproduction of lobsters.
While the nation has seen a recent decline in lobster hauls, the catch remains relatively high compared to historical data, with federal data demonstrating an 11% decrease from 2021 to 2023. One of the primary reasons for opposition to the size adjustment was maintaining competitive balance with Canada, a country that also harvests the same species.
Dustin Delano, a fourth-generation lobsterman and Chief Operating Officer at the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association, highlighted the significant economic contribution of the lobster industry to New England’s economy and its role in shaping the region’s identity. Delano cautioned that increasing catch sizes at this juncture could lead to the financial ruin of many lobstermen and potentially cede the U.S. market to foreign competitors.
